Shade roller



w. s. GWIN SHADE ROLLER Nov. 21, 1950 Filed July 5, 1949 Walter S. Gm'n 1N1 'EN TOR.

1 Q am A \\\\\\M \MV @N i a N r g mm Patented Nov. 21, 1950 r UNITED s TAT ES PATENT OFF-ICE SHADE ROLLER Walter S.Gwin, Ogdens'burg, N.'-Y.

Application July 5, 1949, S.erial=No..103,156

Thisinvention relates to novel anduseful im- .provements in shade rollers .or supports.

.An object of this invention is to improve the general operation and prolong the life of a shade .roller through the utility of an improved structure which includes a roller having a bore in one end with the usual shaft carried at the end of the bore and with a floatingly mounted spindle disposed in the bore having a rotative connection ferrule which is secured to the end shaft or spear of the shade roller construction, and the opposite end of the spindle being tapered to fit within .the'ferr-ule whereby a loose fit is achieved.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilledin the art, in

following-the descriptionof the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the preferred form of the invention, the operative elements thereof beingshown in section;

Figure 2 is'a transverse sectional view taken on a1ine22 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken ona-line 33 ofFigure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the-spindle;

Figure 5-is a perspective view with parts shown in section of the end connection between the spindle and the roller;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a washer used in connection with the end connection of the spindle with the roller, and;

Figure '7 is an exploded elevational view of the opposite end of the spindle construction from that shown in Figure 5.

It has been found that conventional shade rollers or shade supports of the mechanical type in some'instances have been xproneto mechanical breakdown in that occasionally the spring became removed from the bung collar of the wooden bung in the bung type shade roller. Spring fastening in other types of shade rollers have also caused mechanical breakdown due to failure.

7 Claims. (Cl. EEO-313) .2 Thepresentinvention deals with a device designed forobviating or, at least materially lessening thiscause of mechanicalfailure. In the general assembly view-of'Figure l the shade roller In is providedpf the usual material and has a trunnion lzifixed to the collar M at one end of the roller. There is a bore I6 provided in the opposite end .of the roller and an end plate '18 for the bores disposed thereover. A collar 20 has its flange 22 disposedin a suitable recess (unnumbered) at this end of the roller and is used for covering the end plate and holding it, in place .onthis end of the roller.

A spear generally indicated at 24 which includes a shaft or a shaft portion 26 .is-mounted for rotative movement in a central openin 28 of the end plate l8. .A ratchet 30 and dog 32 locking device is operatively connected with the end plate .18 and the spear 24 for retaining the spear in selected rotative positions.

A ferrule 36 consisting of a bottom portion which is fixed tothe shaft 26, and having legs .38 and 40, is disposed in the bore [6. Noting Figure 1' itis evident that the slightly raised lower portions 42 of the ferrule serves as a bearing .whichzis disposed in the opening 28.

.Avflat spring 44 is-disposed in the bore [6 and has one end fixed to the ferrule 36. The means for fasteningthis end of the spring to the ferrule consistsof the legs 38 and 40 which have their ends folded back to assume a substantially U.- shaped configuration, one coil of the spring being. encircled thereby.

A spindle 46 is disposed in concentric relationship with the spring 44. This spindle has a tapered end portion 48 and a slot 50 at the opposite end. A recess or opening 52 is provided in the tapered end of the spindle 46 and is of ample size sOas to accommodate the shaft 46 for rotatable movement. The tapered end of the spindle is disposed within theferrule 36 so that it is free to move with respect thereto.

Means fastening the opposite end of the spring to the-roller II] is provided. This means employs the slot 50 in the spindle 46in suchamanner asto prevent relative rotation of the spindle 46 in the roller. l0 and in such a manner as to allow axial displacement of the spindle 46 with respect to the roller and within the bore l6. Awasher 54 is fixed aroundthe slottedend of the spindle 46 at a point spaced from the bottom of the said slot 50. This end of the spring is passed through the slot 50 and the washer is pulled on the spindle 46'pressing this end of the spring against the.

bottom of the slot 50. A pin 56 which may be 3 in the foriii of an inexpensive nail is disposed transversely across the bore l6, bein fixed to the material of the roller (0. The pin is also passed through the slot 50 on the side of the washer 54 opposite that contacting the spring 44.

There is a three fold purpose of the washer 54. The washer acts as a guide for the spindle to straddle the nail 56 keeps the spring centrally disposed in the roller bore; and protects the spindle from splitting.

In operation an ordinary shade is placed on the exterior surface of the roller H) in the usual manner. After the spear 24 and the trunnion l2 are placed in the conventional brackets, the shade is ready to be operated upwardly or downwardly. When the roller is caused to rotate by operation of the shade, rotation is imparted from the spear 24 to the ferrule 35. To assist in retaining the end plate IS in place when the locking device is operative, the projections 60 of the end plate l8 are anchored in the end of the roller Ifl.

As a ferrule rotates, the spring is placed under a torsional load, since the opposite end of the spring is fixed immovable with respect to rotation of the roller. When the spring is placed under a torsional load it contracts. Accordingly, since the spindle, to which the spring is attached, is capable of axial displacement within the bore 16, the contraction of the spring is compensated slightly but sufficiently to prevent the maximum breaking tendency of the spring and the spring fastenings at the ends thereof.

Since the shaft portion 26 is freely'rotatable in the recess 52 and the tapered end 48 of the spindle 46 is disposed in the ferrule giving sufficient clearance, the spindle is free to float within the confine of the lower or inner end of the recess l6 and the end plate [8.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A shade support comprising a roller having a longitudinal bore in one end, a pin passed through said bore, a spindle disposed in said bore and having one end floatingly fastened to said pin, said spindle having a recess in the opposite end, an end plate for said bore secured to said roller and having a shaft rotatably carried thereby, a part of said shaft being rotatively disposed in said recess, a ratchet and dog locking device cperatively connected with said shaft and said plate, and a spring disposed in concentric relationship with said spindle, the ends of said spring being fixed respectively to said shaft and to said spindle.

2. In a shade support which includes a roller having a bore in one end with an end plate for said bore fixed to said roller, a trunnion secured at one end of said roller and a shaft passed through said plate, and a ratchet and dog looking device operatively connected with said shaft and said plate, the improvement which comprises; a spring disposed in said bore, a spindle concentric with, said spring having said spring secured thereto, and means floatingly securing said spindle to said roller.

3. In a shade support which includes a roller having a bore in one end with an end plate for said bore fixed to said roller, a trunnion secured at one end of said roller and a shaft passed through said plate, and a ratchet and dog locking device operatively connected with said shaft and said plate, the improvement which comprises; a spring disposed in said bore, a spindle concentric with said spring having said spring secured thereto, and means fioatingly securing said spindle to said roller, including a transverse pin disposed in said bore, a slot in and longitudinally of said spindle, said pin being loosely disposed in said slot, and said spindle being longitudinally displaceable when said spring is placed under a torsional load.

1. In a shade support which includes a roller having a bore in one end with an end plate for said bore fixed to said roller, a trunnion secured at one end of said roller and a shaft passed through said plate, and a ratchet and dog locking device operatively connected with said shaft and said plate, the improvement which comprises; a spring disposed in said bore, a spindle concentric with said spring having said spring secured thereto, and means floatingly securing said spindle to said roller including a transverse pin disposed in said bore, a slot in and longitudinally of said spindle, said pin being loosely disposed in said slot, said spindle being longitudinally displaceable when said spring is placed under a torsional load, one end of said spring being fixed to said shaft and the other end to said spindle, and the spindle adjacent the connection of the shaft being tapered.

5. In a shade support, a roller having a bore in one end, an end plate for said bore having a shaft rotatively disposed therein, a shaft locking device operatively connected with said plate and said shaft, a spring disposed in said bore, means fixing one end of said spring to said shaft, and means fixing the opposite end of said spring to said roller, including a spindle fioatingly disposed in said bore, a slot in said spindle, a pin disposed in said slot and fixed to said roller, and a washer secured to said spindle around said slot with a part of said spring behind said washer.

6. In a shade support, a roller having a bore in one end, an end plate for said bore having a shaft rotatively disposed therein, a shaft locking device operatively mounted on said plate and said shaft, a spring disposed in said bore, means fixing one end of said spring to said shaft, a spindle having one end rotatively connected with said shaft and the opposite end connected to said roller by a slot and pin connection for rotative movement therewith and for axial displacement, the opposite end of said spring being connected to said spindle.

The combination of claim 6 and the means for fixing said one end of said spring to said shaft including a ferrule fixed to said shaft and means fixed to said ferrule locking the spring thereto, and the end of said spindle being tapered and disposed in said ferrule.

WALTER S. GWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,212,696 Schuler Jan. 16, 1917 2,307,095 Zaferakis Jan. 5, 194:3 

